Construction method of radio network system and radio transmission device

ABSTRACT

In order to define and validate a station in a same network easily by specifying a unique network ID in a wireless network system, by using the validation information including the unique network ID in the wireless network system, it is designed to execute, as required, a process of subscribing and connecting to an existing wireless network system in the own station, a process of building up a new wireless network system starting from the own station, a process of transmitting validation information to other station in non-registered state of network ID, as the own station subscribed to the existing wireless network system working as the control station, and a process of removing the station subscribed to the existing wireless network system from the network.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a method of building up a wirelessnetwork system and wireless transmission equipment, and moreparticularly to a method of building up a wireless network system andwireless transmission equipment for specifying the unique network ID,and defining the wireless transmission equipment belonging to the samewireless network system.

BACKGROUND ART

Hitherto, for building up a wireless network system, especially forbuilding up a wireless network system in a plurality of wirelessnetworks overlapped in space, a method of building up a wireless networksystem by connecting only preliminarily defined wireless transmissionequipment has been executed.

In this conventional method, generally, a network ID (strictly speaking,network system ID) is specified in the wireless network system to bebuilt up, and the network ID information is fixed and set in allwireless transmission equipment for building up the wireless networksystem, and the wireless network system identified by each network ID isoperated.

According to this method, however, the wireless network system can bebuilt up only in the wireless transmission equipment having the samefixed network ID.

It was therefore a major hindrance when desired to extend the wirelessnetwork system by arbitrarily adding wireless transmission equipment tothe wireless network system, including wireless transmission equipmenthaving different network ID or having no network ID.

As one of the solving methods of the problem, conventionally, thenetwork ID was set by offline operation (including physical means) inthe wireless transmission equipment to be extended.

A sufficient solving method of the problem is to design a sufficientsystem from the beginning so that new extension of wireless transmissionequipment may not be required, that is, in the wireless network systemto be operated, the number of required wireless transmission equipmentis preliminarily predicted from the operation records, and the maximumnumber of wireless transmission equipment according to the prediction isprepared in batch.

Recently, wireless transmission equipment not set in the network ID areprepared from the beginning, and a wireless network system is built uparbitrarily by using a plurality of such wireless transmissionequipment.

In the prior art, however, with an intention of extension of wirelessnetwork system, it was required to set the network ID by offlineoperation (including physical means) in the wireless transmissionequipment to be extended, or use a device for rewriting the network ID,but generally such setting work procedure was extremely complicatedincluding the set of using the rewriting device, and accuracy wasdemanded in such setting operation, and it was extremely difficult forgeneral users not familiar with such setting job to execute the settingprocedure.

If the network ID is set properly by a skilled operator, in actualoperation afterwards, the set network ID may be erased due to trouble ofthe wireless transmission equipment in the network system.

In such an event, ultimately, the general user not familiar with thesetting job is demanded to set the network ID, or a device for rewritingthe network ID easily is demanded.

Or, in the wireless transmission equipment not provided with the meansfor defining or setting the network ID from the beginning, such networkID setting method was impossible.

In the method of preparing a maximum number of wireless transmissionequipment according to the prediction from the operation records inbatch in the wireless network system to be managed, a much greaternumber of wireless transmission equipment must be prepared from thebeginning as compared with the quantity required initially, and theeconomical problem was serious.

In the method of building up the wireless network system arbitrarily byusing a plurality of wireless transmission equipment not set in thenetwork ID from the beginning, there was a possibility of incorporationof an unwelcome wireless transmission equipment contrary to theintention of the user into the wireless network in operation. Suchpossibility may lead to the risk of invasion of an ill-willed thirdparty into the wireless network system.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The invention is devised in the light of such problems in theconventional method of building a wireless network system, and it ishence an object thereof to present a method of building a wirelessnetwork system capable of specifying the unique network ID in thewireless network system, easily defining a wireless transmissionequipment in a same network system, and validating at high reliability.

The first invention is method of building a wireless network systemusing wireless transmission equipment comprising a mutual connectionstep of mutually connecting with another station or control station byexchanging first validation information including network ID(identification information unique to a wireless network system)specified in a wireless network system, a new participation step ofnewly participating in a wireless network system by receiving secondvalidation information including the network ID, a data input and outputstep of sending and receiving data together with management informationincluding the network ID, and a network ID updating step of registeringor erasing the network ID, further comprising:

a step of mutually connecting with the wireless transmission equipmentof another station or control station registering the network ID of theexisting wireless network system, by executing the mutual connectionstep after setting the network ID of the wireless transmission equipmentof the own station in non-registration state, and

a step of registering the network ID in the wireless transmissionequipment of the own station by receiving the second validationinformation from the wireless transmission equipment of another stationor control station, wherein

the wireless transmission equipment of the own station is subscribed inthe existing wireless network system. By doing in this manner, by thenetwork ID unique to the corresponding wireless network system, aplurality of individually independent wireless network systems can bebuilt up as being overlapped in space (using the same wireless networksystem).

The second invention is the method of building a wireless network systemof claim 1, further comprising:

a step of mutually connecting with the wireless transmission equipmentof another station of which network ID is in non-registration state, byexecuting the mutual connection step after setting the network ID of thewireless transmission equipment of the own station in non-registrationstate, and

a step of transmitting the management information to the wirelesstransmission equipment of another station after newly setting thenetwork ID of the new wireless network system as the own station becomesthe control station, wherein

the new wireless network system is built up, starting from the wirelesstransmission equipment of the own station. By doing in this manner, anew wireless network system can be easily built up by mutuallyconnecting a plurality of wireless transmission equipment not havingregistered network ID, and assigning each one of the plurality ofwireless transmission equipment with the same new wireless network ID.Further when extending an existing wireless network system, the wirelesstransmission equipment to be newly connected can automatically acquirethe network ID unique to the wireless network system from the partnerstation of mutual connection.

The third invention is the method of building a wireless network systemof claim 1 or 2, further comprising:

a step of mutually connecting with the wireless transmission equipmentof another station by executing the mutual connection step, and

a step of transmitting the second validation information to the wirelesstransmission equipment of another station from the wireless transmissionequipment of the own station, wherein

the own station already subscribed in the existing wireless networkbecomes the control station having the wireless transmission equipment,and subscribes the wireless transmission equipment of another station ofwhich network ID is in non-registration state into the existing wirelessnetwork system. By doing in this manner, an arbitrary wirelesstransmission equipment in the wireless network system can be used as thecontrol station, and the validation information can be presented.

The forth invention is the method of building a wireless network systemof claim 1 or 3, further comprising:

a step of setting a reset request in the wireless transmission equipmentof the own station, and

a step of stopping wireless transmission of the wireless transmissionequipment of the own station, wherein

the wireless transmission equipment of the own station subscribed in theexisting wireless network system is withdrawn from the existing wirelessnetwork system. By doing in this manner, only by deleting the network IDunique to the wireless network system being registered from the wirelesstransmission equipment as a constituent element of the wireless networksystem, the wireless transmission equipment can be automatically removedfrom the wireless network system. At this point, this wirelesstransmission equipment can be transferred to the constituent element ofanother wireless network system, so that the structure of the wirelessnetwork system can be designed and executed arbitrarily.

The fifth invention is a wireless transmission equipment comprising awireless process unit, a data convert unit for converting the data withmanagement information including network ID (identification informationunique to a wireless network system) for transmitting and receiving inthe wireless process unit, an external device for sending and receivingdata through the data convert unit and an interface, a control unit forcontrolling the operation of each unit, and exchanging first validationinformation including the network ID used in mutual connection with thewireless transmission equipment of another station or control station,second validation information including the network ID used whensubscribing to the wireless network system corresponding to the networkID, and the management information, with the data convert unit, a memoryfor registering the network ID by the access from the control unit, anda reset switch for storing the command for erasing the network ID fromthe memory, further comprising:

mutually connection means for mutually connecting with another stationor control station by exchanging the first validation information,

means for registering the network ID in the memory, by receiving thesecond validation information from another station or control station bythe network ID is not registered in the own station but is registered inanother station or control station, with the own station being mutuallyconnected to another station or control station by the mutual connectionmeans,

means for transmitting the management information including the newlyset network ID to the wireless transmission equipment of another stationafter newly setting the unique network ID in a new wireless networksystem, when the own station is mutually connected to another station orcontrol station by the mutually connection means, and the network ID isnot registered either in the own station or in another station orcontrol station,

means for transmitting the second validation information to the wirelesstransmission equipment of another station from the wireless transmissionequipment of the own station when the own station is the controlstation, if the own station is mutually connected to another station orcontrol station by the mutual connection means, and the network ID isregistered in the own station and is not registered in another stationor control station, and

means of receiving the management information when the managementinformation is transmitted from the control station, and then returningthe response to the received management information to the controlstation, when not mutually connected to another station or controlstation by the mutual connection means, and the network ID is registeredin the own station, and the instruction of erasing the network ID fromthe memory (reset request) is not set in the reset switch. By doing inthis manner, by registering the network ID unique to the correspondingwireless network system in the memory of the wireless transmissionequipment, the wireless transmission equipment can be used as aconstituent element of individually independent wireless network systemsoverlapped in space (using the same wireless network system).

Or by mutually connecting a plurality of wireless transmission equipmentnot registering wireless network ID, and registering a same new wirelessnetwork ID in each memory of the a plurality of wireless transmissionequipment, wireless transmission equipment capable of building up a newwireless network system easily can be presented

By the means of registering the network ID unique to the wirelessnetwork system acquired automatically from the partner station of mutualconnected, in the memory of a wireless transmission equipment to beconnected newly, wireless transmission equipment capable of extending anexisting wireless network system easily can be presented.

When used as arbitrary constituent elements in a wireless networksystem, wireless transmission equipment capable of becoming the controlstation for distributing validation information can be presented.

The sixth invention is the wireless transmission equipment of claim 1,further comprising:

means for erasing the network ID from the memory when not mutuallyconnected to another station or control station by the mutual connectionmeans, and the network ID is registered in the own station, and thereset request is set in the reset switch, and

means of stopping wireless transmission of the own station. By doing inthis manner, only by eliminating the network ID unique to the wirelessnetwork system being registered, from the memory of the wirelesstransmission equipment already set as constituent element of wirelessnetwork system, the wireless transmission equipment can be automaticallyremoved from the wireless network system. And at this moment thiswireless transmission equipment can be transferred to a constituentelement of another wireless network system, so that the wirelesstransmission equipment capable of designing the construction of thewireless network system freely can be presented.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an entire structure of wirelessnetwork system in an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a connection mode of wirelessnetwork system in the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 an explanatory diagram showing a frame composition of signaltransmitted among terminal communication stations 101 to 107 in thewireless network system in the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of terminalcommunication stations 101 to 107 in the wireless network system in theembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing mutual connection system forexchanging network ID in a method of building a wireless network systemin the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a composition diagram of data packet storing information as anexample to be exchanged in mutual connection in the wireless networksystem in the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a composition diagram of data packet storing downlinkmanagement information as an example to be exchanged in mutualconnection in the wireless network system in the embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 8 is composition diagram of data packet storing wireless packetdata as an example of transmission and reception in the wireless networksystem in the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of mainly the control unit45 of terminal communication stations 101 to 107 included in thewireless network system in the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the network resetting process.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing procedure of connection of awireless transmission equipment once belonging to one of the wirelessnetwork systems to another wireless network system in the embodiment ofthe invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention are described below while referring to theaccompanying drawings.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an entire structure of a wirelessnetwork system according to the embodiment of the invention.

The wireless network system of the embodiment comprises a wirelessnetwork system 1, terminal communication stations 101 to 106 subscribedto the wireless network system 1, and input devices connected to theterminal communication stations 101 to 106 corresponding to the terminalcommunication stations 101 to 106.

Specific examples of the input devices may include personal computer 10,television receiver 11, set top box 12, printer output device 13, VTR14, telephone set 15, game device 16, etc.

In this embodiment, the procedure of the terminal communication station107 newly participating in the wireless network system is explained.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a connection mode of the wirelessnetwork system in the embodiment of the invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, the wireless network system 1 is composed of controlstation 100 and terminal communication stations 101 to 106, having thecontrol station 100 located in the center.

In FIG. 2(a), the control station 100 is composing one wireless networksystem 1, at the present, together with the terminal communicationstations 101 to 106, except for terminal communication station 107.

Also as shown in FIG. 2(a), the terminal communication stations 101 to106 cannot not mutually communicate directly with the terminalcommunication station located at the remotest position, but cancommunicate with the neighboring terminal communication stations.

FIG. 2(a) also suggests presence of terminal communication station 107which may possibly participate newly in the wireless network system 1.

In FIG. 2(b), this terminal communication station 107 is mutuallyconnected with the control station 100 in order to participate in thewireless network system 1, and acquires, for example, the network IDwhich is unique to the wireless network system 1.

In FIG. 2(c), processing for new participation is over, and the newlyparticipating terminal communication station 107 is one of the terminalcommunication stations of the wireless network system 1, and iscomposing an extended wireless network system 1, together with theexisting terminal communication stations 101 to 106 around the controlstation 100

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the frame composition of thesignal transmitted between the terminal communication stations 101 to107 in the wireless network system according to the embodiment of theinvention.

In this embodiment, the terminal communication stations 101 to 107 inthe wireless network system 1 transmit data individually by assuming aframe period.

That is, as shown in FIG. 3, assuming one frame period in a specifiedperiod, a specified section of a front portion of one frame period isthe management information transmission region, and a downlinkmanagement region and an uplink management region are set in thismanagement information transmission region.

A section other than the management information transmission region ineach frame is the media information transmission region, and in theterminal communication stations 101 to 107, various data is transmittedto this media information transmission region by receiving accesscontrol information from the control station 100.

FIG. 3B shows an example of composition of downlink management regionand uplink management region. A cycle start packet (CSP) is disposed inthe downlink management region. A cycle report packet (SRP) and aplurality of station sync packets (SSP1 to SSP4) are disposed in theuplink management region.

The composition of the cycle start packet (CSP) in the downlinkmanagement region is described later. The cycle report packet (SRP) inthe uplink management region is a packet in which the correctioninformation of time information is disposed, being a packet fortransmitting the correction information of time information to thecontrol station from the station managing the time in the network.Station sync packets (SSP1 to SSP4) in the uplink management region areprepared as many as the number of stations (terminal communicationstations), which are the packets individually assigned to the terminalcommunication stations. In this example, however, in a plurality offrames, packets are disposed as many as the number of terminalcommunication stations, and when the maximum number of terminalcommunication stations in the network is, for example, 16, station syncpackets from all terminal communication stations in the network aretransmitted in four frames. Besides, at least one station sync packet inevery several frame periods is a packet assigned for new participation,and a station wishing to participate newly in the network transmits theinformation expressing the will to participate to the control station byusing this packet. This station sync packet for new participation may beprepared by one slot each for each frame period. For example, the finalslot SSP4 is used as the station sync packet for new participation.

In this embodiment, for the sake of convenience of explanation, thewireless network system is built in a frame structure, but not limitedto this generally, the invention is also executed in another arbitrarywireless network system not defining such frame structure.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the structure of the terminalcommunication stations 101 to 107 in the wireless network systemaccording to the embodiment of the invention.

In this embodiment, the terminal communication stations 101 to 107 arebasically composed commonly, and include antennas 41A to 41C used intransmission and reception, and a wireless processor 42 connected to theantennas 41A to 41C for processing wireless transmission and wirelessreception. In this configuration, the terminal communication stations101 to 107 can communicate by wireless means with another wirelesstransmission equipment mutually.

Herein, an antenna diversity configuration is composed of a plurality ofantennas, that is, antennas 41A to 41C.

This antenna diversity configuration realizes a method of communicatingby changing the antennas 41A to 41C so that an optimum path (route) maybe always selected, when communicating with other communication stationsfor composing the network system, or a method of enhancing the S/N ratioby using all of the antennas 41A to 41C, which is known as the diversityreception system.

Incidentally, as the transmission system for transmission and receptionin the wireless processor 42 shown in FIG. 4, for example, thetransmission system by multi-carrier signal called OFDM (orthogonalfrequency division multiplex) system may be employed, and for thefrequency used in transmission and reception, for example, a very highfrequency band (for example, 5 GHz) may be employed.

As for transmission output, a relatively weak output is set, and whenused indoors, for example, the output is set for realizing wirelesstransmission in a relatively short distance only, about several metersto tens of meters.

The data convert unit 43 shown in FIG. 4 converts the signal received inthe wireless processor 42, and the signal transmitting from the wirelessprocessor 42.

When receiving, the data received in the wireless processor 42 isconverted in the data convert unit 43, and is supplied to the externaldevice 49 connected externally through the interface 44 and serial bus47. When transmitting, the data supplied from the external device 49 issupplied into the data convert unit 43 through the serial bus 47 andinterface 44, and converted and sent out to the wireless processor 42.

The control unit 45 controls the operation of the parts, and exchangesdata necessary for communication control with the data convert unit 43.The control unit 45 has an internal memory 45, and the internal memory46 temporarily stores the data necessary for communication control suchas network ID information and station ID information.

The control unit 45 has a reset switch 48 for deleting the recordednetwork ID.

The interface 44 is a constituent element responsible for externalinterface of the wireless transmission equipment, and assuming theexternal device 49 connected by way of the serial bus 47, audio andvideo data and various information are transmitted and received with theexternal device 49.

The serial bus 47 conforms to the bus specification as disclosed, forexample, in IEEE1394.

As the method of connecting the wireless transmission equipmentphysically (electrically), alternatively, the control units 45 of theboth wireless transmission equipment may be connected through theinterfaces 44 of the both wireless transmission equipment by using theserial bus 47.

Or, the wireless transmission equipment may be incorporated in the mainbody of the external device 49 connected to the serial bus 47.

The control unit 45 for controlling the constituent elements of terminalcommunication stations 101 to 107 may be realized by, for example, amicrocomputer.

In this case, when the signal received in the wireless processor 42 is acontrol signal, the received signal may be also supplied into thecontrol unit 45 by way of the data convert unit 43, so that the controlunit 45 may set the parts in the state indicated by the received controlsignal.

Or, as for the control signal transmitted from the control unit 45 toanother transmission equipment, it may be transmitted by wireless meansby supplying from the control unit 45 to the wireless processor 42through the data convert unit 43.

When the received signal is a sync signal, the control unit 45 may judgethe reception timing of the sync signal, and the frame period may be setaccording to the sync signal, so that the communication controlprocessing may be executed in the determined frame period.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing mutual connection system forexchanging the network ID in the method of building the wireless networksystem of the embodiment of the invention.

The external device 49 connected externally may be excluded from thescope of the wireless transmission equipment of the embodiment, and maybe regarded as a device connected externally to the wirelesstransmission equipment.

FIG. 5(a) shows an example of realizing wireless connection of mutualconnection system for exchanging the network ID.

In FIG. 5(a), mutual connection information is exchanged between theexisting wireless transmission equipment 500 already having a registerednetwork ID and a wireless transmission equipment 501 newly participatingwith the same network ID, by wireless connection.

This wireless connection system is started, by using an empty space ofthe downlink management region shown in FIG. 3, by sending a mutualconnection exchange packet shown in FIG. 6(a) from the newlyparticipating wireless transmission equipment 501 to the control stationof this network system.

FIG. 5(b) shows an example of realizing the mutual connection system forexchanging the network ID by wired connection.

In FIG. 5(b), mutual connection information is exchanged between theexisting wireless transmission equipment 500 already having a registerednetwork ID and a wireless transmission equipment 501 newly participatingwith the same network ID, by wired connection.

This wireless connection system is started, by using an empty space ofthe downlink management region shown in FIG. 3, by sending a mutualconnection exchange packet shown in FIG. 6(a) from the newlyparticipating wireless transmission equipment 501 to the control stationof this network system.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of data packet storing information as anexample of exchange at the time of mutual connection in the wirelessnetwork system of the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6(a) shows an example of information of mutual connection exchangepacket to be exchanged at the time of mutual connection, and FIG. 6(b)shows an example of information on validation confirm packet to be sentout from the control station side of the network system to the newlyparticipating side at the time of mutual connection.

The example of information in FIG. 6(a) includes packet ID (mutualconnection information) 601 showing the data packet is a mutualconnection exchange packet, a network ID 602 unique to the wirelessnetwork system used for identifying the wireless network system as theobject of connection of the wireless transmission equipment, a uniqueESN information 603 which is an electronic serial number unique to thenewly participating wireless transmission equipment, and data CRC 604which is CRC (cyclic redundancy check) data used in detection ofpresence or absence of data error when the mutual connection exchangepacket is transmitted.

As for network ID 602, if the network ID is not assigned to its terminalstation, a specific fixed value is used (for example, the value assumingall bits to be 0 data). As for the unique ESN information 603, anabsolute identification number (for example, 64-bit number) assignedpreliminarily to each wireless transmission equipment is used.

By mutually sending and receiving the mutual connection exchange packet,the wireless transmission equipment not having registered network ID ischecked.

That is, In the wireless transmission equipment not having registerednetwork ID, for example, 0X0000 is assigned as the network ID, and whenbuilding up a wireless network system in this case, a numerical valueother than 0X0000 is assigned to the network ID for the wirelesstransmission equipment subscribed to the wireless network system.

FIG. 6(b) shows an example of information of validation confirm packetto be sent out from the control station side of the network system tothe newly participating side at the time of mutual connection, and thisexample of information includes packet ID (validation confirmation) 605showing the data packet is a validation confirm packet at the time ofmutual connection, a network ID 606 used for identifying the wirelessnetwork system in which the wireless transmission equipment is toparticipate, a station ID 607 which is the unique information given tothe wireless transmission equipment participating in the wirelessnetwork system, a unique ESN information 608 which is unique to theparticipating station necessary for identifying the newly participatingwireless transmission equipment, data encrypting information 609 usedwhen encrypting the information of wireless transmission afterparticipation as required, and data CRC 610 which is CRC (cyclicredundancy check) data used in detection of presence or absence of errorin the data at the time of transmission.

The station ID 607 is the ID provided, for example, by up to 63 piecesat each station in the network.

Aside from the above examples of information, other information may betransmitted and received as required.

If an error is detected in the CRC data, it may be designed to judge thecorresponding exchange information to be invalid.

FIG. 7 shows a composition of data packet storing a cycle start packet(CSP) as downlink management information as an example of exchange atthe time of mutual connected in the wireless network system according tothe embodiment of the invention.

As the downlink management information, for example, the packetcomposition shown in FIG. 7 is preferably used.

The downlink management information shown in FIG. 7 includes frameinformation 71 showing the frame number given in each frame, network ID72 which is an identification number unique to the pertinent wirelessnetwork system, period information 73 of station sync packet (SSP),phase information 74 of station sync packet (SSP), quantity information75 of station sync packet (SSP), CRC data 76, station information 77,slot information 78, and CRC data 79. The CRC data 76 is the data givento the data from the frame information 71 to the quantity information 75of SSP, and the length is fixed up to this CRC data 76. The CRC data 79is the data given to the station information 77 and slot information 78,and the length is variable from the station information 77 to the CRCdata 79. The station information 77 shows the information by the numberof station sync packets (SSP) in one frame, and how many frames are usedfor composing the SSP of one cycle. The phase information 74 of the SSPshows the present frame is the frame of which position in one cycle.

The slot information 78 may be designed to transmit, for example, theenable station ID expressing the communication station in operation forcomposing this wireless network system, the network station link mapshowing the mutual connection status of communication stations forcomposing the wireless network system, network information used inmutual validation in this wireless network system, frame use informationshowing the status of use of the corresponding transmission line or bandassignment status in the frame, and other various management informationnecessary for management of the wireless network system.

In the downlink management information, moreover, other information maybe also transmitted and received as required. For example, it mayinclude the information used for encrypting information communicationbetween communication stations within the same network system.

FIG. 8 shows the composition of data packet storing silent packet dataas an example of transmission and reception in the wireless networksystem according to the embodiment of the invention.

In the data packet shown in FIG. 8 (in the media informationtransmission area of FIG. 3A), only the data portion 82 excluding theheader portion 81 is encrypted. By this encrypting process, it isintended to prevent leak of information to other wireless transmissionequipment being not an official member of this network system.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart mainly showing the operation of the control unit45 of the terminal communication stations 101 to 107 included in thewireless network system in the embodiment of the invention.

Referring simultaneously to FIG. 1 to FIG. 8, the operation of thecontrol unit of the terminal communication stations 101 to 107 isexplained by using the flowchart in FIG. 9.

First, at step S11, it is checked whether the network ID is set in thewireless transmission equipment of the own station (any one of terminalcommunication stations 101 to 107). That is, it is judged if the networkID has been already set in the internal memory of the wirelesstransmission equipment of the own station. Herein, if it is judged thatthe network ID has not been set, it is judged whether or not the cyclestart packet as the downlink management information has been received(step S12). If the downlink management information has not beenreceived, it means there is no network around the own station, and hencethe process goes to the step of setting the network.

That is, it is judged whether or not the own station may become thecontrol station of the network system (step S13). For the purpose ofthis judgement, negotiation may be processed between the wirelesstransmission equipmentes of the own station and the partner station ofmutual connection.

As a result of judgement, if the own station cannot be the controlstation, the process is terminated (as subsequent process, a network maybe formed by belonging to the partner station of mutual connection).When the own station can be the control station, at step S14, a networkID is newly set, and a wireless network system is built up by settingthe own station as the control station, and the downlink managementinformation is transmitted by wireless means at step S15.

By judgement at step S12, when the downlink management information isreceived, a packet for mutual connection (packet in FIG. 6A) istransmitted (step S16), and it is judged whether or not a packet fornetwork validation (packet in FIG. 6B) has been received (step S17).Herein, when the packet for network validation is received, the networkID and station ID are registered (step S18). That is, the correspondingnetwork ID and station ID are stored in the internal memory of thewireless transmission equipment of the own station, and hereinafter theown station operates as a constituent element of the wireless networksystem. If the packet for network validation cannot be received at stepS17, the process is terminated.

At step S11, if the network ID is set in the own station, it is judgedwhether or not a packet for mutual connection (packet in FIG. 6A) can bereceived (step S19), and it is checked whether or not the wirelesstransmission equipment of the own station (any one of terminalcommunication stations 101 to 107) is connected mutually to anotherstation (any one of terminal communication stations 101 to 107 exceptfor the own station). If the packet for mutual connection is received,it is judged whethe or not the own station is the control station of thenetwork (step S20), and in the case of control station, a packet fornetwork validation is transmitted (step S21). If the packet for mutualconnection cannot be received at step S19, or when the own station isnot judged to be the control station at step S20, the process isterminated.

When confirming mutual connection, for example, if the wirelesstransmission equipment are mutually connected by wired means, connectionby external interface and cable is assumed. To be ready for the suchcase, a connection terminal exclusive for mutual connection may beprovided. Or when the wireless transmission equipment are connected bywireless means, it is requited to specify a signal for recognizing themutual connection state.

The validation operation of the network system is to acquire, forexample, the station ID which is the unique information given to thewireless transmission equipment newly participating in the wirelessnetwork system.

The network resetting process is shown in a flowchart in FIG. 10. First,as usual action of on-line operation after subscribing to the wirelessnetwork system, at step S912, it is judged if the network ID is set inthe internal memory of the wireless transmission equipment of the ownstation (step S31). As a result of judgement, if the network ID is notset in the internal memory in the wireless transmission equipment of theown station, it is not validated as the wireless transmission equipmentof wireless network system, and hence the process is terminated.

When the network ID is set, at step S32, it is judged whether or not thereset of the network ID of the own station is requested. For example, byinstalling a reset switch 48 as shown in FIG. 4 in the wirelesstransmission equipment, it may be designed to judge by its state.

Herein, if the reset of the network ID is not requested, the usualaction continues. When judged at step S32, if the reset of the networkID is requested, at step S33, it is reported to the control station ofthe wireless network system that it is cut off from the wireless networksystem as required, and all wireless transmission is stopped, and atstep S34, the management information such as the network ID informationof the wireless network system is deleted from the internal memory ofthe wireless transmission equipment of the own station.

At each terminal communication station, checking for presence or absenceof downlink management information transmitted from the control stationof the wireless network system, the corresponding downlink managementinformation is received, and only when the wireless network system isoperating, the uplink management information is transmitted in responseto the downlink management information.

If the wireless network system is not working, the uplink managementinformation may not be transmitted.

By judgement at step S913, if the reset of the network ID is requested,at step S916, it is reported, as required, to the control station of thewireless network system that it is cut off from the wireless networksystem, and all wireless transmission is stopped, and at step S917, themanagement information such as network ID information of the wirelessnetwork system is deleted from the internal memory of the wirelesstransmission equipment of the own station.

In the case of wireless mutual connection, setting of network ID can bedeleted by cutting off the power source of the wireless transmissionequipment, or disabling reception of specified downlink managementinformation transmitted from the control station for a specific period.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a procedure of connection ofwireless transmission equipment belonging to one of wireless networksystems to another wireless network system according to the embodimentof the invention.

In the schematic diagram in FIG. 10(a), a first wireless network system61 comprises terminal communication stations 701 to 707 surrounding afirst control station 700, and a second wireless network system 62comprises terminal communication stations 721 to 723 surrounding asecond control station 720. The first wireless network system 61 andsecond wireless network system 62 are present adjacently to each anotherin space.

Herein, for the convenience of explanation, supposing the terminalcommunication station 707 composing the first wireless network system 61is present at a position capable of communicating directly also with thecontrol station of the second wireless network system, the terminalcommunication station 707 is assumed to be transferred from the firstwireless network system 61 to the second wireless network system.

In the schematic diagram shown in FIG. 10(b), in order to cancelconnection with the first wireless network system of the wirelesstransmission equipment of the terminal communication station 707 desiredto be connected to another wireless network system, that is, the secondwireless network system 62, for example, the reset switch belonging tothe wireless transmission equipment of the terminal communicationstation 707 is pressed to cut off the terminal communication station 707from the first network system 61.

By pressing the reset switch, hereinafter, the first wireless networksystem includes only the terminal communication stations 701 to 706surrounding the first control station 700, and the wireless transmissionequipment of the reset terminal communication station 707 is a wirelesstransmission equipment not connected to any wireless network system.

In the schematic diagram shown in FIG. 10(c), the terminal communicationstation 707 being cut off is newly participating in the second wirelessnetwork system 62.

Herein, in order that the wireless transmission equipment of the newlyparticipating communication station may participate in the secondwireless network system 62, it is mutually connected to the controlstation 720 of the second wireless network system 62, and the uniqueidentification information of the second wireless network system 62 suchas network ID is acquired.

In the schematic diagram shown in FIG. 10(d), changeover processaccompanying new participation is over, and the newly participatingcommunication station 724 (it is formerly terminal communication station707) is composing the second wireless network system 62, together withthe terminal communication stations 721 to 723 surrounding the secondcontrol station 720, as a new terminal communication station of thesecond wireless network system 62.

According to the invention as described herein, by the network ID uniqueto the corresponding wireless network system, a plurality ofindividually independent wireless network systems can be built up asbeing overlapped in space (using the same wireless network system).

A new wireless network system can be easily built up by mutuallyconnecting a plurality of wireless transmission equipment not havingregistered network ID, and assigning each one of the plurality ofwireless transmission equipment with the same new wireless network ID.

When extending an existing wireless network system, the wirelesstransmission equipment to be newly connected can automatically acquirethe network ID unique to the wireless network system from the partnerstation of mutual connection.

An arbitrary wireless transmission equipment in the wireless networksystem can be used as the control station, and the validationinformation can be presented.

Further, only by deleting the network ID unique to the wireless networksystem being registered from the wireless transmission equipment as aconstituent element of the wireless network system, the wirelesstransmission equipment can be automatically removed from the wirelessnetwork system. At this point, this wireless transmission equipment canbe transferred to the constituent element of another wireless networksystem, so that the structure of the wireless network system can bedesigned and executed arbitrarily.

By registering the network ID unique to the corresponding wirelessnetwork system in the memory of the wireless transmission equipment, thewireless transmission equipment can be used as a constituent element ofindividually independent wireless network systems overlapped in space(using the same wireless network system).

Or by mutually connecting a plurality of wireless transmission equipmentnot registering wireless network ID, and registering a same new wirelessnetwork ID in each memory of the plurality of wireless transmissionequipment, wireless transmission equipment capable of building up a newwireless network system easily can be presented.

By the means of registering the network ID unique to the wirelessnetwork system acquired automatically from the partner station of mutualconnected, in the memory of a wireless transmission equipment to beconnected newly, wireless transmission equipment capable of extending anexisting wireless network system easily can be presented.

When used as arbitrary constituent elements in a wireless networksystem, wireless transmission equipment capable of becoming the controlstation for distributing validation information can be presented.

Further, only by eliminating the network ID unique to the wirelessnetwork system being registered, from the memory of the wirelesstransmission equipment already set as constituent element of wirelessnetwork system, the wireless transmission equipment can be automaticallyremoved from the wireless network system. And at this moment thiswireless transmission equipment can be transferred to a constituentelement of another wireless network system, so that the wirelesstransmission equipment capable of designing the construction of thewireless network system freely can be presented.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of building a wireless network systemusing wireless transmission equipment comprising a mutual connectionstep of mutually connecting with another station or control station byexchanging first validation information including network ID(identification information unique to a wireless network system)specified in a wireless network system, a new participation step ofnewly participating in a wireless network system by receiving secondvalidation information including the network ID, used when subscribingto the wireless network system corresponding to said network ID, a datainput and output step of sending and receiving data together withmanagement information including the network ID and a network IDupdating step of registering or erasing the network ID, furthercomprising: a step of mutually connecting with the wireless transmissionequipment of another station or control station registering the networkID of the existing wireless network system, by executing the mutualconnection step after setting the network ID of the wirelesstransmission equipment of the own station in non-registration state, anda step of registering the network ID in the wireless transmissionequipment of the own station by receiving the second validationinformation from the wireless transmission equipment of another stationor control station, characterized in that the wireless transmissionequipment of the own station is subscribed in the existing wirelessnetwork system.
 2. The method of building a wireless network system ofclaim 1, further comprising: a step of mutually connecting with thewireless transmission equipment of another station of which network IDis in non-registration state, by executing the mutual connection stepafter setting the network ID of the wireless transmission equipment ofthe own station in non-registration state, and a step of transmittingthe management information to the wireless transmission equipment ofanother station after newly setting the network ID of the new wirelessnetwork system as the own station becomes the control station, whereinthe new wireless network system is built up, starting from the wirelesstransmission equipment of the own station.
 3. The method of building awireless network system of claim 1 or 2, further comprising: a step ofmutually connecting with the wireless transmission equipment of anotherstation by executing the mutual connection step, and a step oftransmitting the second validation information to the wirelesstransmission equipment of another station from the wireless transmissionequipment of the own station, wherein the own station already subscribedin the existing wireless network becomes the control station having thewireless transmission equipment, and subscribes the wirelesstransmission equipment of another station of which network ID is in nonregistration state into the existing wireless network system.
 4. Themethod of building a wireless network system of claim 3, furthercomprising: a step of setting a reset request in the wirelesstransmission equipment of the own station, and a step of stoppingwireless transmission of the wireless transmission equipment of the ownstation, wherein the wireless transmission equipment of the own stationsubscribed in the existing wireless network system is withdrawn from theexisting wireless network system.
 5. The method of building a wirelessnetwork system of claim 1, further comprising: a step of setting a resetrequest in the wireless transmission equipment of the own station, and astep of stopping wireless transmission of the wireless transmissionequipment of the own station, wherein the wireless transmissionequipment of the own station subscribed in the existing wireless networksystem is withdrawn from the existing wireless network system.
 6. Thewireless transmission equipment of claim 1, further comprising: meansfor erasing the network ID form the memory when not mutually connectedto another station or control station by the mutual connection means,and the network ID is registered in the own station, and the resetrequest is set in the reset switch, and means of stopping wirelesstransmission of the own station.
 7. A wireless transmission equipmentcomprising a wireless process unit, a data convert, unit for convertingthe data with management information including network ID(identification information unique to a wireless network system) fortransmitting and receiving in the wireless process unit, an externaldevice for sending and receiving data through the data convert unit andan interface, a control unit for controlling the operation of each part,and exchanging first validation information including the network IDused in mutual connection with the wireless transmission equipment ofanother station or control station, second validation informationincluding the network ID used when subscribing to the wireless networksystem corresponding to the network ID and the management information,with the data convert unit, a memory for registering the network ID bythe access from the control unit, and a reset switch for storing thecommand for erasing the network ID from the memory, further comprising:mutually connection means for mutually connecting with another stationor control station by exchanging the first validation information, meansfor registering the network ID in the memory, by receiving the secondvalidation information from another station or control station by thenetwork ID is not registered in the own station but is registered inanother station or control station, with the own station being mutuallyconnected to another station or control station by the mutual connectionmeans, means for transmitting the management information including thenewly set network ID to the wireless transmission equipment of anotherstation after newly setting the unique network ID in a new wirelessnetwork system, when the own station is mutually connected to anotherstation or control station by the mutually connection means, and thenetwork ID is not registered either in the own station or in anotherstation or control station, means for transmitting the second validationinformation to the wireless transmission equipment of another stationfrom the wireless transmission equipment of the own station when the ownstation is the control station, if the own station is mutually connectedto another station or control station by the mutual connection means,and the network ID is registered in the own station and is notregistered in another station or control station, and means of receivingthe management information when the management information istransmitted from the control station, and then returning the response tothe received management information to the control station, when notmutually connected to another station or control station by the mutualconnection means, and the network ID is registered in the own station,and the instruction of erasing the network ID from the memory (resetrequest) is not set in the reset switch.